The Bilila Lodge Kempinski is a brand new lodge, set in the centre of the Serengeti National Park. It is only due to open on 1 June 2009, so none of the Expert Africa team have yet visited this lodge, but here is what we know about it…

The Bilila Lodge has 74 rooms, including Deluxe rooms, Club rooms, Corner suites, one Presidential suite and two Family villas. They are all spacious, and reportedly some of the largest rooms in the Serengeti. Each is decorated with local artworks and textures, so that the rooms reflect their location - East African.

Each room has an en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, satellite TV and radio, a DVD player, a mini-bar, tea/coffee making facilities, high speed internet access, and a private teak deck with a telescope for game viewing. In addition, the suites and the two Family villas have their own private plunge pool, offering great panoramic views over the Serengeti plains.

The lodge's main facilities include a restaurant, serving African and international cuisine, prepared in an open kitchen. There's also a lounge area, a pool bar adjacent to the lodge's sparkling infinity pool, and a wine cellar, offering a variety of wines. At the boma you get the opportunity to attend African entertainment shows, whilst enjoying grilled specialities.

Beside this, the Bilila Lodge features an art gallery and a gift shop, as well as the Anantara Spa, providing relaxing treatments after an exciting day in the vast Serengeti. The lodge has its own game-drives and a private ranger service, to accompany you on your game viewing-trips around Serengeti National Park.

Lodge overview

Lodge type: Safari

No. of bedrooms: 74 rooms

Season: Open Year Round

Central facilities: Bilila Lodge's central facilities include a lobby lounge, a main restaurant, a bar, as well as a wine cellar. There are conference rooms to accommodate up to 80 people at the lodge, and a variety of business centre services are available. The Anantara Spa offers all kinds of beauty treatments, and guests have access to fitness facilities and an outdoor infinity pool. For children, there's a play area, as well as a library and game room for grown-ups. Bilila also features an art gallery, a gift shop and Lithoz jewelry shop.

Geographics

Location: Serengeti Migration Area, Tanzania

Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Key personnel

Owner: Bilila Lodge is owned by Kempinski Hotels.

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Food quality: Bilila Lodge's main restaurant serves Pan-African and international cuisine. 'Theatre cooking' in the open kitchen shows guests the freshness and quality of the products used by the chefs. The restaurant prepares breakfast, lunch and dinner. Light, creative meals are also served at the pool bar, the lounge area, and in the lodge's wine cellar. At the boma, guest can enjoy local grill specialities accompanied by African entertainment.

Dining style: Inidividual Tables

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Children

Activities: There are two private Family villas, and interconnecting rooms, which can be used as family units. Also, Bilila Lodge Kempinski has a play area for children.

Central communications

Communications: Every room has high speed internet access.

TV & radio: All guestrooms at Bilila Lodge are equipped with satellite TV/radio and DVD/multimedia players.

Health & safety

Malarial area: Yes

Medical care: Clinic and medical assistance

Dangerous animals: High Risk

Security measures: There's a safe for personal belongings in every room.

Extras

Disabled access: In Place

Laundry facilities: Full Laundry Service - Extra Charge

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